Fix Zoom Stuck on “Connecting…” on Mac

Many Zoom users complained the app sometimes gets stuck on “Connecting…” when starting or joining a meeting. This problem usually occurs shortly after installing the latest Zoom updates. Restarting your Mac after updating Zoom should fix the problem for most users. But if the issue persists, pursue the troubleshooting solutions below.

Why Is Zoom Stuck on “Connecting”?

If Zoom is stuck on the “Connecting to audio” screen, this indicates you need to tweak your settings so as to allow the app to use your microphone and camera. On the other hand, if the app is stuck on “Connecting” at all, this appears to be a network or server issue.

Go to Zoom’s service status page and check if there are any known issues that might explain why the app is stuck on “Connecting”. Additionally, check if other users reported similar problems.

Edit Your Security & Privacy Settings

1. Click on the Apple menu and go to System Preferences.
2. Then click on Security and Privacy.
3. Select the Privacy tab and click on Microphone.
4. Make sure Zoom is allowed to access and use your microphone.
5. Do the same for your Camera settings and allow the app to use your camera as well.
6. Restart Zoom and check if this quick solution solved the problem.

Check Your Connection

Make sure you have enough bandwidth to support Zoom video calls. Keep in mind that video meetings require quite a lot of bandwidth and the app may stop working if there’s not enough bandwidth for its needs. Disconnect all the other devices connected to the network and ensure your Mac is the only device using the connection.

Additionally, restart your router and check if there are any firmware updates. Disable your VPN and firewall, switch to a different network and check the results. Go to System Preferences, select Security & Privacy and click on the Firewall tab to disable the tool.

If the issue persists, change your DNS settings.

1. Click on the Apple menu, select System Preferences and click on Network.
2. Select your connection and click on Advanced.
3. Click on DNS and hit the + button.
4. Enter your new DNS settings and check the results. For example, you can use Google’s public DNS settings (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for IPv4, or 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844 for IPv6). Or you can use OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220).
5. Save the settings and test your connection.

Reinstall Zoom

If you still can’t use the app, uninstall it from your Mac and restart your machine. Then reinstall Zoom from their website and check if you can launch and join video meetings.

Additional Solutions

A number of users confirmed the solutions below worked for them. While they may not do the trick for all of you, it’s still worth giving them a try.

• Remove extra audio cables. If the problem persists, disconnect all non-essential peripherals, restart Zoom and check if the app works as intended.
• If you’re using a Wi-Fi extender, connect your Mac to the main Wi-Fi network and check if Zoom launches properly.
• Disable your antivirus. If you’re using an antivirus on your Mac, disable the tool and launch Zoom again. Certain antivirus solutions may occasionally block your connection to Zoom’s servers. Alternatively, you can edit your antivirus settings and add an exception for Zoom.
• Copy the meeting ID in the Zoom app. For some weird reason, using the redirect link doesn’t always work. Zoom connects but fails to actually join the meeting.
• Are you running other apps that might be using your MacBook’s camera and mic? If you do, close them and restart Zoom. These apps might be preventing Zoom from accessing your mic and camera.

Conclusion

If Zoom gets stuck on “Connecting…”, check your network settings. Then, make sure the app can access your mic and camera. Additionally, disable your antivirus, firewall and VPN and close all the other apps that might be using your Mac’s camera and microphone. If the issue persists, reinstall a fresh copy of Zoom. Did these tips help you troubleshoot the problem? Which solution worked for you? Share your feedback in the comments below.